Device for displaying merchandise



1366- 1951 M. c. RANSEEN DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING MERCHANDISE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Feb. 19, 1949 INVENTOR. MA UEITZ CIQANSEEN FIG. 4

A'T'TORNEKS M. c. RANSEEN I DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING MERCHANDISE Dec. 4, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1949 F/GJO INVENTOR. MAUB/TZ CEANSEEN AT T'OZNE Y5 Patented Dec. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING MERCHANDISE Hauritzv C. Ranseen, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application February 19, 1949, Serial No. 77,338

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to devices for displaying articles of merchandise such as photographs, display cards, pictures, anniversary cards, folders and analogous articles whereby such articles are supported in upright position.

It is an object. of the present invention to provide a display device adapted to be positioned upon a suitable surface, such as the top of a counter, whereby articles of merchandise, such as those above mentioned, may be supported on said device in an upright tilted position.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a display and supporting device for an article of merchandise whereby the device functions to maintain the article in an upright position in such manner and by such means that the weight of the article displayed thereon is largely translated to the surface upon which the device is positioned.

An important feature of the present device is the provision of a panel member which is adapted to be maintained in an upright tilted position by means of a rearwardly extending brace member and a forwardly extending base member which cooperate to provide stability to the upright panel member.

Another feature of the present device is the provision of spaced apart slots adjacent one end of the uphight panel member, thereby providing a. strap-like clamping member therebetween whereby when a portion of an article to be displayed upon the device is inserted in said slots, the strap-like member will embrace said portion and maintain the article in, superimposed relation upon the. front of the panel.

A. specific feature of. the device is the provision of contiguous spaced slots which extend upwardly from the lower edge of the upright panel member whereby when a lower corner of a rectangular fiat article is, inserted through said slots and the article is in display position upon the. device, the lower edge of the article will be positioned in contiguity with the lower edge of the upright panel member.

Additional features of the present invention include the provision of a base member which forms a juncture with the lower edge of the panel member whereby article in display position upon the device is adapted to rest upon the base member; the function of the base member to resist forward tilting of the panel member; a display and supporting device formed from a single lanlr cut. from a sheet of fiat material whereby the blank thus formed may be utilized to form either a right or a left display device; a

rearwardly extending panel or brace member which is operatively positioned in edgewise rela' tion to the main panel member and adapted to be positioned adjacent a median portion of a card supported on the main panel whereby said brace member is not readily visible; and the provision of a display device which may be fabricated of relatively thin material due to the fact that only a portion of the weight of the article displayed thereon is carried by the upright panel member of the device to which the article is secured.

Other objects and additional features of the invention will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a display device embodying features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the device with an article of merchandise such as a relatively stiff card mounted thereon;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view taken from the right-hand side of. Figure 2;

Figure i is a plan sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of Figure 2, but. with the card omitted;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line and in the direction of the arrows 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 5A is a fragmentary sectional view on the line and in the direction of the arrows 5A-5A of Figure 2 with the card removed;

Figure 6 is a view of the fiat blank from which the device of the invention may be formed;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a display device of slightly modified construction;

Figure 8 is a front elevational view of a complemental pair of display devices, right and left, similar to the. device of Figure 7, with an article of merchandise such as a stiif card mounted thereupon;

Figure 9 is a. plan sectional view on: the line and in the direction of the arrows 99 of Figure 8 with the card removed therefrom;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on the line and in the direction of the arrows iii-Iii of Figure 8';

Figure 11 is a view of the blank from which. the device oi Figure 7 may be formed;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a display device embodying features of a further modification of the invention;

Figure 131 is. a view of the blank from which the device of Figure l2-may be formed; and

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a display device embodying an easel-back display and supporting panel incorporating features of the present invention.

In the selected embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, there is illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, a display device comprising a main panel member 2 having at one end an angularly disposed panel or brace member 3 whereby the panel 2 may be supported in an upright position upon a suitable surface, such as the top of a counter or a display case. The device, shown in operative set-up position in Figure 1, may be formed from a one-piece flat blank such as shown in Figure 6. The blank may be die-cut from a sheet of flat, flexible material, such as paper, plastic or light metal. For ease in forming the device from the blank, for economy of manufacture and for general utility the device may preferably be made of relatively stiff paper or cardboard. When metal or plastic is utilized in the fabrication of the device certain inherent characteristics and/or advantages are obtained as will subsequently be pointed out.

As shown in Figure 6, the blank which is utilized to form the present device embodies the main panel member 2, the supporting panel or brace member 3 and a flange or base member 4. The blank has an upright score line 5 whereby the brace member may be folded along the line 5 into angular relation to the panel member 2. A horizontal score line 6 is provided whereby the base or flange member 4 may also be folded into angular relation to the panel 2. Thus, the panel member 2 is defined by the upright side edge 1 and opposed upright side edge defined by the score line 5, a lower edge defined by the score line 6 and an upper edge 8 which slopes upwardly from the top of the side edge 1 to a comparatively short horizontal edge 9 which continues to the right, as viewed in Figure 6, to form a corner with the top of the side edge 5. Thus, a panel is provided wherein one end thereof is relatively higher than the other end which is a feature of the invention as will subsequently be pointed out.

The brace member 3 of the blank has a lower edge I l which is preferably disposed at an angle less than 90 degrees with respect to the score line 5, whereby when the brace member is folded along the score line 5 into angular relation with the panel member 2 the panel will assume a tilted position, as shown in Figure 3, with the bottom edge I! of the brace member 3 engaging upon the surface upon which the device is positioned.

The base member 4 of the blank shown in Figure 6 may be bent forwardly along the score line 6 to provide an outwardly extending flange, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Thus, it will be noted that the base 4 is positioned in fiatwise relation upon the surface upon which the device is positioned and thereby functions to resist forward tilting of the panel member 2. The base 4 also provides longitudinal stiffening means for the panel member 2.

Means are provided whereby articles of merchandise may be mounted upon and secured to the device whereby such articles may be maintained in upright position. As an illustrative example a relatively stiff rectangular card may be mounted upon the device, as shown in Figures -2 and 3. Means for mounting the card upon the device, whereby the card is maintained in superimposed relation to the front of the panel member 2, is preferably provided adjacent one end of the panel member 2 and is herein shown com prising a diagonally disposed band or strap member I2 adapted to embrace a portion of the card positioned therebeneath. The strap member 12 is formed by spaced apart diagonally dis-posed openings or slots l4 and I 5 provided in the panel member 2 adjacent the side edge 1 thereof. The lower ends of the slots Ml5 are disposed at the score line 5 and the slots extend upwardly therefrom, preferably at an an le therewith and have their upper ends disposed adjacent the side edge 1 of the panel member 2.

In mounting the card upon the device the corner of the card is first inserted through the slot l4 and thence under the strap member l2. A tongue-like member 17, the edge of which defines one side of the slot I5, is then bent inwardly and the corner of the card is then passed through the slot l5 and the card moved into position upon the panel with the vertical edge of the card engaging the upper ends of the slots l4-l5 and the lower edge of the card engaging the lower ends of the slots, It Will be noted that the upper and lower ends of the slot 15 are preferably enlarged, as shown thereby to provide the tongue I1 which may be flexed inwardly to enable the side edge of the card to engage against the vertical wall It of the slot l5 and the lower edge of the card to move to the bottom of the slot 15 as before stated. The upper and lower ends of the slot l4 may also be enlarged for similar reasons.

It will be noted that the vertical edges which define the upper ends of the slots 14 and I5 are disposed on a line, indicated [6a, that is perpendicular to the score line 8 which defines the lower edge of the panel member 2. Thus, when the corner of a card is positioned beneath the strap member I 2 and the side edge of the card is moved to the end of the slot l5 and the vertical edge which defines the upper end of the slot M, the edge of the card will be oriented in a vertical manner.

The enlargement of the slots [4 and [5 laterally of the upper and lower ends of the strap member I2, is also desirable in that a portion of a relatively thin card may be disposed beneath the strap member l2 with a side and lower edge of the card in alignment with the ends of the slots, respectively, whereby there will be no appreciable deformation or bending of the marginal edges of the card adjacent the ends of the strap member.

With the slots 14 and i5 extending downwardly to the lower edge of the panel member 2 and with the card positioned at the bottom of the slots, as shown in Figure 2, the lower edge of the card will be positioned in contiguity with the lower edge of the panel member 2. As the lower edge of the panel member 2 forms a juncture with the base member 3 at the score or bend line 6, the card will thus be positioned to rest upon the base member 4, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Thus, when a relatively heavy card is mounted upon the device in the manner as just described, a substantial portion of the weight of the card will be carried by the base member 5 and as the base member is positioned in fiatwise relation upon the surface upon which the device is positioned, this weight will consequently be translated thereto.

It is a feature of the present invention that by the provision of the base member 4 it is possible to provide complemental spaced slots in the panel member 2 which extend to the lower edge of the panel due to the fact that the base memsmite bier 4:, which is integral, withth'eppanel 2., spans The complemental spaced slots; 14-45 which provide the strap-like. member I 2 therebetween may be. arranged in contiguous parallel relation, as shown in the. drawings, but it is obviou that slots may be provided in non-parallel relation and the slots. may be curved or angular, as may be desired. It is also contemplated that a single slot may be provided in the panel member 2 adapted to receive a. portion of an article dis.- played thereon.

vA feature of the present invention is the provision of means whereby the strap member 12 will be adapted to flex outwardly whereby a relatively thick. card may be mounted upon the panel member 2 with no distortion to the panel member. As shown in Figure 6 .the blank is slitted at #8 and is from the bottom of the slots I4 and I5, respectively, said slits extending into the base member t as shown. Similarly the-blank isyproe vided with slitsv 2i and. 22 at the upper ends of the slots M and lb which extend in a. direction towards the side edge l of the panel 2. Thus, the overall length of the strap i2 is defined bl the score line 32 at the outer ends of the slits iii-49 and ill-22., respectively; When the blank is folded. into operative position, as shown in Figures 3, 5 and 5A, it is to be noted that while the base member 4 is folded along the score line 5 the strap member [2 is. folded at the score line 23 whereby the strap member I2 is spaced outwardly from the plane of the panel member 2 as. shown in Figure 5A. The upper .end of the strap member flexes outwardly from the. score line 24. Thus, a gap is provided between the, strap member l2. and the front face of the panel member 2 whereby a relatively heavy card may be inserted beneath the.- strap l2. without distortion to, the panel member 2. Considerable variationsmay be provided in the width of the gap between the strap 12 and the face of the panel member 2 whereby when the device is preformed of metal orplastic a plurality of flat sheets may be positioned beneath the strap 62 with the lower edges of the sheets. resting upon the base member 4. Such variations in the gap between the strap I2 and the. panel. 2. may be provided by increasing or cated of relatively stifi sheet metal or plastic, the

base. member which is integral with the panel member 2, positively resists forward tilting of the device due to the rigidity of the base member 4 with respect to the panel member 2..

The novel display device of the present invention may be fabricated in various sizes and configurations. depending upon the size. and/or contour of the article to. be displayed thereon. A ieatureof the invention is the function of the upright. panel member 2 to provide. rigid backing to an article supported upon. the device. Thus, as shown in Figure 2, panel is. provided wherein they side edge 5 thereof is positioned at a median portion. of the card l5! supported. thereon wherein the. short horizontal edge 9 of. the panel '42 is positioned a substantial distance upward from the lower edge of the panel. Thus. the card.

a horizontal score or fold line 2?.

6 mounted upon the panel has substantial-backin whereby a card of relatively thin material may be utilized. It is to be noted that the side I of tbepanel 2 may remain constant in height. for various sizesv of cards, whereas. the side 5 may have an. increased height in a, device adapted to display a taller card... As the rearwardly disposed supporting panel or brace member 3. is positioned at the end; 5. of the panel member 2 the. rear support for the panel is located at a median portion. of the card whereby the card is positively maintained in an upright position. The supporting panel 3', being remote from the end I of the panel member 2, is thus not readily visible.

Means are provided whereby the supporting panel or brace member 3 may be fixedly maintained in angular relation to. the panel member 2. Such means comprises a locking element: or tab it made integral with the main panel member 2 and formedby slitting portions of the panel 2 and the supporting panel 3 whereby the looking element is attached to the main panel 2 along Thus, when the supporting panel 3 is folded rearwardly into operative position with respect to the main panel member 2, the tab 23 is folded rearwardly along the score line 27 and one of a plurality of notches 2.8 is. engaged with the edge 29 of the supporting panel 3. thereby rigidly locking the panel 3 in position, as clearly illustrated in Figure 4. With the supporting panel 3 in the full line position of Figure 4- the panel member will assume the tilted position shown in Figure 3. When a greater tilt is desired for the panel member 2. the locking tab 26. may be folded with either one of the other notches engaging the edge .29 such as indicated in the dotted line position of the supporting panel 3 in Figure 4.

A particular feature of the present invention is the provision of a blank which is adapted to be folded into either a right or "left display device. Thus, the brace or supporting panel 3, the. locking element 26 and the base member 4 may be folded into the dotv and dash line positions, as indicated in Figure 4. Thus, the opposite side of the panel member 2 from that utilized in the device of Figure 1 becomes the front of the panel whereby a card or other article. of merchandise to be displayed thereon may be superimposed upon this side of the panel. Thus, the strap member I 2 will be positioned to embrace the lower right-hand corner of the article as will be understood. Such a device is particularly adapted to display articles ofmerchandise, such as folded anniversary card's, booklets and stiff-cover magazines wherein the lower right-hand corner of the rear cover of the article is clamped beneath the strap member I2, whereupon the front portion of the magazine or article is closed thereover to thus hide the strap [2 therebeneath. The bottom of the article is thus positioned to rest-upon the base member 4 whereby the article is protected from a possibly soiled supporting surface. The upright side portion 1, which is the only portion of the panel member 2 thatv is visible. from the front of the device, may he used for suitable printed matter or other em" bellishment.

The base member 4 may also be utilized to support an additional article of merchandiseas indicated at 39- in Figure 3 or the base member may be utilized to receive a portion of a weighted member whereby the display" device will be prevented irom shifting about upon the supporting surface.

Figures 7 to 11, inclusive, of the drawings illustrate a modified construction of a display device wherein the base member of the device is positioned to the rear of the main panel member, as shown in Figures 7, 9 and 10. The component parts of the device are similar to those of the device of Figure 1, although of slightly different configuration.

The blank for forming the device of Figure 7 is shown in Figure 11 and comprises a main panel member 32, a supporting panel or brace member 33 and a base member 34. The brace member 33 is folded into operative relation to the panel 2 along the upright score line 35 and the base member 34 may be folded along the score line 36. In the display device of Figure 7 it is to be noted that the base member 34 is folded rearwardly with respect to the panel member 32 whereby the base member cooperates with the rearwardly extending brace member 33 to prevent rearward tilting of the panel member 32. The base member 3 stiflens the panel 32 and being disposed at the rear thereof is not visible from the front of the device. A tab or locking element 26 similar to that of Figure 1 maintains the brace member 33 in operative relation to the panel member 32, as shown in Figure 9. The panel member 32 is provided with slots [4 and i similar to the slots provided in the panel member 2 of the device of Figure 1. The slots l4-l5 have their upper ends disposed adjacent the end of the panel member 32 opposite to the end of the panel to which the brace member 33 is secured and extend downwardly to the score line 36 which defines the lower edge of the panel member 32. The strap member l2, provided between the slots i4l5, thus extends to the lower edge of the panel 2 whereby when an article of merchandise, such as a card 20, is mounted upon the device, with the lower corner thereof positioned beneath the strap member 12, as shown in Figure 8, the lower edge of the card will rest upon the strap member 12 adjacent the lower ends of the slots [4 and I5. Thus, the lower edge of the card will be positioned in contiguity with the lower edge of the panel member 32 whereby when only one device is utilized to support a relatively long card, the overhanging end of the card may rest on the supporting surface upon which the device is positioned.

The blank for forming the display device of Figure '7 may be utilized for forming either a right or left device, as indicated in Figure 9, wherein the full line positions of the component parts of the device correspond to the left structure shown in Figure '7 and to the device at the left side of Figure 8. When a reverse or "right device is desired, the parts are folded into the dot-and-dash line positions indicated in Figure 9. When thus folded a display device is provided which is adapted to receive the lower right hand corner of the card 2|], as illustrated at the right hand side of Figure 8.

A feature of this device is the location of the base member 34 at the rear of the main panel member 32 whereby the only portions of the display device that are visible from the front thereof are the strap member 12 and the upright side edge adjacent thereto. The base member 34 functions to span the slots |4-l5 similar to the device of Figure 1, thereby maintaining the lower ends of the slots in spaced relation.

It is to be understood that the base member 4 ofthe device of Figure 1 may be disposed rearwardly of the main panel member 2, if desired.

I51 whereby the device will function similar to the device of Figure 7.

Figures 12 and 13 illustrate a further modification of the invention wherein there is shown a display device having an upright main panel member 42, a brace panel 43 and a base member 44. The base member 44 forms a juncture with the panel 42 at the lower edge 46 thereof and extends rearwardly therefrom, as shown in Figure 12. The base member 44 is provided with an integral flange 48 which may be bent upward- 1y into fiatwise relation with respect to the rearwardly extending brace panel member 43. The main panel member 42 may then be tilted to a predetermined angle with respect to the base member 44 and the brace 43 and the flange 48 then secured together by such means as the staple 49, thus maintaining the component parts of the device in operative relation. The blank for forming the device, shown in Figure 13, may be folded into either a right or left device, as will be understood.

The panel member 42 is provided with elongated apertures which may be similar to the slots I4l5 of the devices of Figures 1 and 7 and are adapted to receive a corner portion of an article to be displayed and whereby the panel portion 22 between the slots will overlie the corner portion and thereby cooperate with the slots to support the article in position upon the main panel member 42.

Figure 14 illustrate a display device embodying an easel-back display and supporting panel incorporating features of the present invention. The device comprises a main panel member 52 and an integral base member 54 which may be die-cut from relatively thin material. Slots l4 and i5 are provided in the panel 52 and extend downwardly to the base member 54 as shown. The base member 54 may be positioned forwardly of the panel member 52, as shown, or it may be bent rearwardly to be positioned at the rear thereof, as may be desired.

For maintaining the panel member 52 in an upright position an easel member of relatively heavy material has a portion 56 secured to the rear of the panel 52 adjacent one end thereof as shown. The easel is provided with a rearwardly extending panel or brace member 51 and a locking element 58 whereby the brace member 51 is maintained in operative relation with respect to the portion 56. Thus, the panel member 52 is provided with sturdy supporting means whereby a display device is provided adapted to have positioned thereon relatively heavy articles of merchandise and whereby the panel member 52 will be maintained in an upright position.

As many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific embodiments herein except as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a. panel, means for supporting the panel in an upright operative position, a flange portion attached to at least a portion of the lowermost edge of said panel, a narrow elongated opening in said panel extending upwardly from the juncture of said panel and said flange portion toward but short of a side edge of said panel, whereby a sheetlike article may be supported by said panel with a portion of said article positioned within said n'arrow' opening.

2. In a device of the class described, a panel, means for supporting the panel in an upright operative position, a flange portion attached to at least a portion of the lowermost edge of said panel, a pair of narrow elongated openings in said panel extending upwardly from the juncture of said panel and said flange portion toward a side edge of said panel providing a strap-like member therebetween the uppermost end of the strap-like member being secured to a portion of said upright panel, whereby a sheet-like article may be supported by said panel with a portion of said article extending through said openings and beneath said strap-like member.

3. In a device of the class described in claim 2 wherein said narrow elongated openings terminate at their uppermost ends in slits extending laterally toward but short of the side edge of said panel and at their lowermost ends in slits extending into said flange portion whereby the strap-like member is adapted to be off-set outwardly with respect to a face of said panel.

4. A display device as set forth in claim 2 characterized in that the upper ends of said elongated openings terminate in-a line substantially perpendicular to the line of attachment 1o between said panel and said flange portion, whereby a sheet-like article may be supported by said panel with a portion of said article extending through said openings and beneath said strap-like member thereby permitting a side edge of said sheet-like article to be positioned at the upper ends of said elongated openings and in alignment with said substantially perpendicular line.

MAURITZ C. RANSEEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 286,332 Rufiani Oct. 9, 1883 732,828 Christopher July 7, 1903 1,179,675 Stiifson Apr. 18, 1916 1,402,635 Meyer Jan. 3, 1922 1,439,719 Whipple Dec. 26, 1922 1,459,532 Harlan June 19, 1923 1,651,748 Blyth Dec. 6, 1927 2,084,635 Friedrich et al June 22, 1937 

